Results 1,521-1,540 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: I presume the Opposition will be granted extra time given that the Minister of State was afforded 25 minutes.

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and wish him well with his new portfolio. I met him on many occasions when he was Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with responsibility for older people.

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: I commend him on the many hospitals and institutions for the elderly he visited during his term as well as the many promises he made which were not delivered upon because of the senior Minister's cutbacks in that Department.

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: I fully support this motion tabled by Fine Gael in light of public concern about the operation of National Car Testing Service Limited which is midway through its contract. Who will test the tester and assist it as a whole other than the controversial 1,000 car "spy" operation which is in place? It is imperative that the anomalies causing countrywide concern and public disquiet are eliminated...

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: There is widespread concern, which is yet more evidence that the Government is not listening to the people; this has been proved decisively at the local and European elections when Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats were rebuffed.

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: The Minister of State referred to independent surveys which were undertaken to assess customer satisfaction with the service, the ratings of which he described as overwhelmingly positive. These surveys must have been taken within the Fianna Fáil Party among the diehard supporters because the luke warm supporters are no longer with the party.

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: The system has become overly bureaucratic and does not appear to be answerable to anyone, with decisions differing from station to station and causing great inconvenience to the public. Hardly a day goes by when SGS is not is the Labour Court due to breakdowns in employer-employee relations in various centres throughout the country. The Minister referred to Abbeyfeale and Limerick but similar...

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: Fine Gael has proposed that the current structure involving designated NCT centres should be abolished. While almost one in three cars in the State is registered in Dublin, just three of the 43 centres are in the capital. Under our proposals, motor garages would be licensed to carry out the NCT procedure after satisfying clear quality control measures and would be subject to review at licence...

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: As has been proven, the condition of a car is totally insignificant in road accidents. The National Road Safety Council cites a statistic of less than 1% so it could be concluded that the NCT is not influencing the reduction of road fatalities. National car testing became compulsory as a result of an EU directive and was introduced in Ireland in 2000 resulting in cars more than four years of...

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: In 2003, 52% of cars passed first time round and, in 2004, 51% passed first time round.

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: It would appear to be self-evident——

Seanad: National Car Testing Service: Motion. (3 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: ——that either the cars are deteriorating or, as seems more likely, the criteria are being extended to a nit-picking level.

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: Senator Mansergh spoke about the amount of investment that is coming on stream. I have a different story because much public concern has been expressed by finance officers and public representatives throughout the country with regard to the clawback in funding for various programmes and schemes that were to come on stream this year and next. These include water and sewerage schemes and...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: It never happened and I believe——

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: I am asking the Leader to invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government into the House to debate what he intends to do to address the serious concerns about funding and the ever-growing deficits being faced this year by local authorities when they are preparing their budgets. This is a matter of serious concern to many people because of the slowdown of infrastructural...

Seanad: Order of Business. (4 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: I support the calls for a debate on transport. It is important that the transport debate should be broadened to include all of Ireland. We have serious concerns with the Dublin-Sligo rail line. Only last week a number of patients coming to Dublin for cancer treatment missed their appointments because of train delays in the midlands. It is annoying for a large number of people and I hope it...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: Given the ongoing fractures in Government policy, it is important we have a debate on incineration.

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: The Minister for Defence, Deputy O'Dea, and the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, now criticise the whole idea of incineration. I want to know what it is they know which the general public is not being informed of in regard to incineration. It is important we have an urgent debate on incineration. Both Ministers have...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: On another issue, the public are shocked by the many incidents of overcharging by Vodafone and O2. Almost €3 million was robbed from customers over the past 12 months or so yet all that has been received from the management and directors of the companies is an apology. The Government needs to take action in this area and customers robbed by the two mobile telephone companies should be fully...

Seanad: Order of Business. (9 Nov 2004)

James Bannon: The Senator is only acknowledging it today.